Wednesday Reads and Getting Back to Normal

I feel like my life is back to normal!!! I’m getting my 500+ words written in the morning and I’m walking on the treadmill after. Which means…more reading. Yay! Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #16

Dates read: March 3-20
Title: The Double D Ranch
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Rochelle Bradley
Genre: Romantic comedy
Series:  Fortuna, Texas #1
# of Pages: 299
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Much to the chagrin of foreman Josiah, Jessie Davidson wants a romance reduction. But the Double D Ranch hides a secret. Since inheriting the property, Jessie kept her grandmother’s hoard concealed, but now she’s found the courage to purge the unwanted items: steamy novels, thousands of them. Romance has to go! Donating the books is a good thing, right? Not when coupled with a dare.
    The dare spirals out of control. The ante is upped when caches of the spicy books, left in barber shops, pool halls, and pubs, challenge others to join the fad. A perverted prankster runs amok playing on the town’s fantasies. Book clubs are formed. Plots acted out. In a town saturated with romance, Jessie finds her love life underdeveloped.
    Keep Jessie safe. It’s the promise Josiah Barnes made to Jessie’s dying grandmother. He aims to honor it, even if it means protecting Jessie from himself. Failing her in the past has him to high alert when the Double D becomes ground zero for the arousal avalanche sweeping the town. As a full-support, silent partner, Josiah will do anything to augment the Double D. But when Jessie starts selling handmade lingerie, keeping his hands to himself is easier said than done…
My thoughts: If you like funny named businesses and people along with your romance, you might enjoy this.

Book #17

Dates read: March 20-26
Title: The Demon’s in the Details
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Jeanne Oates Estridge
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series:  Touched by a Demon Book 2
# of Pages: 348
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: It’ll be a cold day in Hell before artist Keeffe Blackmon gives up the statue created by her late mother, a world-famous inspirational sculptor. Keeffe’s not selling—not even to a man as rich as devil’s food cake and handsome as sin—the gorgeous but morally repulsive billionaire Seth McCall. That is, until Keeffe decodes a fiendish contract and discovers she has just one month to prove she’s earning a living with her art or lose her sculpture forever.
    Demons will ice skate on the Lake of Fire before Satan puts Abaddon, aka Bad, the demon of sloth and Hell’s brainiest minion, back in charge of Hell’s technology hub. But when Satan’s stooge McCall fails to acquire the powerful statue, Bad seizes his chance. To win back his job, Bad offers to possess McCall and, with the unbeatable combination of McCall’s good looks and his own smarts, melt Keeffe into selling him the sculpture.
    As Keeffe races to complete a mural in McCall’s McMansion and earn the cash she needs to keep her statue, the billionaire blows hot one minute and cold the next. It’s almost as if he’s two different men: one a jerk, the other sweet and nerdy—and hot as Hell.
    Aboveworld for the first time, Bad finds out his heart is even bigger than his brain. He is entranced by Sedona’s stunning landscape and seduced by Keeffe’s passion for art, life, and the man she thinks she sees in McCall.
    Bad may be the smartest demon in Hell—but is he smart enough to win Keeffe’s trust and ice Satan’s devilish plan to destroy Sedona?
My thoughts: What an awesome book! Lots of twists and turns (I kept wondering how Bad and Keeffe were going to work out!). Thoroughly entertaining.

Today Hubby and I are refinancing the new house (lower interest rate and a BIG deposit!). We hope to get the house paid off in about 3 years (if all goes well). Then Hubby can retire. Although he wishes sometimes that he could do it now. And he probably could, but then we’d have to change our lifestyle and I don’t see that happening. I could probably do it. I’m not so sure he could!

So… Are you preparing for your retirement? If not, you should!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Getting Noticed Well is Hard

I think one of the hardest things an author can do is get their name out there in a way that isn’t obnoxious so people can find their books and WANT to buy them.

Not WRITE the book. Oh no. That part is EASY compared to marketing. At least it’s easier for me.

Thing is, I’m not sure my readers read blogs. I think writers read blogs, but not so much readers. So why do I stick around?

Good question. Maybe one of these days I’ll have a good answer. Because right now? I don’t know. I do know it’s hard to think of things to blog about at times (like now).

Thank goodness there is more than just blogging. I do try other avenues, too (besides Facebook). There’s this site, bookandmainbites.com, where I can post snippets of my books so readers get examples of my writing (instead of just reading the cover copy). I’ve been really bad posting over there, mainly because it’s so time consuming finding snippets, or pictures to go with the snippets (because you have to post a picture with it and I needed to buy some pictures!). I’m aiming to get more organized now and get one snippet posted a week and see if that helps sales. I’ve been told if you’re a regular poster over there that it really does help. We’ll see. As long as I do all that work AFTER my daily writing goal, what do I have to lose? Nothing, really until they start charging me, and that will happen eventually. Hopefully by then my following will be up; otherwise, I might have to leave. I have to look at the ROI sometimes!

Would posting snippets here do any good? Hmmm… I don’t know. I mean, I got the picture, I got the snippet, guess I have nothing to lose, right? I’ll have to think about that. Maybe that can be my Friday blog thing.

And maybe THAT’S why I keep on posting. I come up with ideas as I write something for this thing. And there’s always a possibility one of you reading this is actually a future reader of my books.

This writer can dream.

So… What are you finding difficult these days?

Happy Monday.

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and I'm Pissed

Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #15

Dates read: March 13-17
Title: Big Easy Evil
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Heather Graham
Genre: Paranormal mystery
Series:  Cafferty & Quinn #3.7
# of Pages: 127
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Halloween in the Big Easy… Does evil really exist? Michael Quinn and Danni Cafferty are far too familiar with the question. At the death of her father, Danni inherited his  house and shop on Royal Street in New Orleans—and much more than she ever anticipated, including a book kept by her family for generations on how to combat the most unusual forces.
    As Halloween approaches, Quinn is already nervous—he knows what the season can bring. Even as Danni tries to convince him that very good things can happen as well, a man arrives in their kitchen, seeking their very special assistance. Sam DeMille is a lover of decoration and costume—and all things Halloween—until the body of a murdered man shows up in the midst of his backyard ‘cemetery.’ With an axe in his head.
    Could the infamous Axe-man of New Orleans have found his way back after nearly a century? Or is just the insidious at work, a spirit of demon filtering into an object or a person and creating the mayhem all over again? With the help of their odd team, Danni and Quinn must find the truth behind the strange happenings haunting the city—lest they fall prey to that very strange evil themselves.

My thoughts: Should have been a quicker read, but I was busy with revisions. Short and sweet, it was entertaining and brought me back to a series I enjoy. I’d be getting the next book in the series if I could, because I like these characters.

I buy my books from Barnes & Noble (if I don’t buy them from the author directly or see something at Books & Co.). I get free shipping and I own a Nook. I won’t get a Kindle, so I won’t buy books from Amazon. Not even the paperbacks, unless I’m already placing an order big enough to get free shipping (I do not belong to Prime, and I don’t want to, either). I bought the above series at B&N. But the next book out is only sold at Amazon (Kindle AND paperback). This is a big-named author (at least in Romancelandia) and all her other books are wide. I don’t understand.

Not everyone buys their books from Amazon!

Gee, can you tell I’m a little pissed?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Today I Shall Breathe Easier

Today I will finish up the edits on Biting the Curse and will send it off to my editor. Once I hit that send button, I shall breathe easier. That’ll be one job done and out of the way!

And boy, was that book taking up my time or what? My reading has suffered. My TV watching has suffered. I’ve suffered! I’ll be happy to get back to Dr. Who (if I can remember where I left off).

Of course, none of that will happen until after I’ve written 500+ words on the new project. But I do that when I get up. I really do get my best writing done then. At least, I’m most productive then. Whether it’s my best, well, who knows. It’s words. On the page. That’s what matters.

I mentioned last week that we got our new couch delivered. Well, here’s a picture of our great room.

The couch on the right is the new one. The one on the left we got back in August. When the store had another sale, I just took my paperwork and said I wanted another one of those. Easy sale for the store, huh?

We really like this couch, though. The sides recline (electronically!). Very comfortable. And now we have room for everyone!

So… What was the last piece of furniture you bought? Anything good?

Happy Monday.

Stacy

Literary Love: Authors Rock Savannah

Today I’m using my blog to tell you about a reader/author convention happening this summer (July 25-28) in Savannah, Georgia, that I will be attending. It’s called Literary Love: Authors Rock Savannah. There are panels, parties, meals with authors, an awesome Faerie Ball, and two book signings. It’s a great opportunity to get to know so many authors. Over 80 authors are attending featuring multiple genres.

Get your Ticket HERE.

Once you register for the event, the portal for the deal on the hotel (which is on the riverfront!) will be sent to you.

Then head on over to Facebook and join the Attendee Group HERE.  Don’t miss out on all the fun!

The FULL EVENT ticket includes:

• 4 meals: First Date Breakfast on Friday, Paranormal Lunch on Friday, First in a Series Brunch on Saturday, Faerie Ball On Saturday evening.
• Access to 2 signings and the Welcome Open bar
• Welcome Bag with a tower of Freebie books
• Access to ALL parties and panels (starting Thursday, Most parties and events are over by 5pm on Friday, with the Dance party later that night, and the Erotic Trivia as well)
• Access to the Blind Date Book Room
• Ability to reserve tattoo time
• Ability to make a Corset fitting reservation
• Access to the Charity Gift baskets room

If you’ve ever wanted to spend some time with authors, this is the place to do it.

So… Have you ever been to a book convention? They can be overwhelming at times (to this introvert), but they are so much fun. I’m really looking forward to going to this one.

Happy Friday!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads

I almost didn’t have something to post. The book I was reading wasn’t doing it for me, so I found something else that did. Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #14

Dates read: March 10-12
Title: Prisoner of Night
Year of publication: 2019
Author: J.R. Ward
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series:  Black Dagger Brotherhood #16.5
# of Pages: 201
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Goodreads: When Ahmare’s brother is abducted, there is nothing she won’t do to get him back safely. She is unprepared, however, for the lengths she will have to go to save his life. Paired with a dangerous but enticing prisoner, she embarks on an odyssey into another world.
    Duran, betrayed by his father, imprisoned in a dungeon for decades, has survived only because of his thirst for vengeance. He has been biding his time to escape and is shocked to find an unlikely and temporary freedom in the form of a determined young female.
    Battling against deadly forces and facing unforeseen peril, the pair are in a race to save Ahmare’s brother. As time runs out, and the unthinkable looms, even true love may not be enough to carry them through.

My thoughts: This is not a Black Dagger Brotherhood story. It is set in the world, which most of her novellas (although this was more like a novel) in this series are. The characters are unknown to her dedicated readers. Did that bother me? Not in the least. It was a fix I really needed after some difficult readings, and I breezed through it. It was good writing, good story-telling, and I’m content.

I’m hoping this break will help me get back into the other book I was reading. I do want to finish it, if just to see how it ends.

So… Have you had to take a break during a read? Did you go back to it? How’d that turn out?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Emerging from the Editing Cave

I feel like I’ve been in a cave since February 1^st. Amazing how consuming revising and editing can be when you set a deadline. Or rather, a short deadline. Not something I want to do again, let me tell you.

But I’m starting to emerge. I’m starting to breathe easier. I’ve gone through the whole manuscript and fixed it up (even the ending, which ended up not needing THAT much changed (yay!!)). Added almost 13,000 words net to that puppy (which it needed since I tend to write dialogue-heavy). Next, I plan to print it out (maybe with a different font?) and read it that way. Sometimes the errors pop out better on paper. Don’t know why, but it does for me.

I’m really hoping I don’t find a lot that needs to be changed. I’m really hoping I fixed everything that needs to be fixed. Yeah, I really hope a lot because the truth is, I’m sure I’ll find stuff that needs to be changed and I probably didn’t fix everything. This writer can dream, though, can’t she?

So… Saturday’s hockey game in Columbus didn’t go so well. I hate that stupid cannon!! Yeah, the Penguins won 3 of the 4 games they met this season, but I was really hoping for that sweep. And I was really hoping to not hear that cannon.

See? Hoping.

But!!! They won last night against Boston (sorry, not sorry, Jeff!). Now, if they can only play well CONSISTENTLY!

Today we get our new couch delivered. I’ll have to take a picture of our great room once it’s in so you all can see it. Next furniture purchase: two bookcases. The two in my sunroom will go into the front bedroom/television room, where two matching bookcases reside. I just have to figure out what kind of bookcases I want in the sunroom. Or rather, I have to go bookcase shopping. Where would one go for bookcases, though? Besides an expensive furniture store? I’m not looking for works of art. Just something to hold books!

Happy Monday.

Stacy

I'm a Penguins Fan

Tomorrow I’ll be going to Columbus to watch the Penguins take on the Blue Jackets. Penguins beat them last night in Pittsburgh. They also beat them back on February 26, when they were in Columbus last. I attended that game, too.

See? Here’s a picture of me!

I sure hope I don’t have to hear that cannon tomorrow.

Happy Friday. And Let's go Pens!!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and I’m Sick of Snow!

Snow, snow, snow. All it seems to do is snow anymore. Especially, ESPECIALLY when I have plans. Why is that, do you suppose? And our new house is drafty. I thought something was wrong with the furnace, but now we’re suspecting the windows. I put in a warranty request right away (since the house is still under warranty). The windows should NOT be leaking. Brrrrr…

Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #13

Dates read: February 23-March 3
Title: Skinwalker
Year of publication: 2009
Author: Faith Hunter
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series:  Jane Yellowrock #1
# of Pages: 320
Paper or plastic: Paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind—a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires—and hunts the undead for a living. But now she’s been hired by Katherine Fonteneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps.
    Amidst a bordello full of real “ladies of the night,” and a hot Cajun biker with a panther tattoo who stirs her carnal desire, Jane must stay focused and complete her mission…or else the next skin she’ll need to save may be her own.
My thoughts: I have finally decided to start reading books by authors that I have seen at Dragon Con year after year after year. And I started with this one. It’s heavy on the descriptions and a bit more dense (meaning, hardly any white space on the page) than I like, but it was enjoyable and I can see me reading more of this series. If you enjoy Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series but don’t like all the sex, then this book is for you. Don’t know if the other books in this series have sex, but this one does not. Just a lot of death and gore. You know… fun stuff.

Are you sick of winter, too? Warm weather cannot get here soon enough. Of course, then the bugs come. Ugh. Why can’t we have warm weather without the critters! I know, I gotta complain about everything. I’m blaming it on the SNOW!!!

Happy Reading!

Stacy